Extensible support for use in conjunction with cabinets and the like



Feb 25, E936.

H, A. SPERLICH www EXTENSIBLE SUPPORT FOR USE IN CONJUNCTION WITH CABINETS AND THE LIKE Filed March 22, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

ATTOR AEYS.

Feb, 25, @936. H A, SPERUCH 2,032,188

EXTENSIBLE SUPPORT FOR USE IN CONJUNCTION WITH CABINETS AND THE LIKE Filed March 22, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I NVE N TOR.

2%/ Herman 7L peflzc/L Feb. 25, E936.. H A sph-HUGH 2,@3288 EXTENSIBLE SUPPORT FOR USE IN CONJUNCTION WITH CABINETS AND THE LIKE Filed March 22, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. ewzmz JZ, eflieh Patented Feb. 25, 1936 UITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EXTENSIBLE SUPPORT FOR USE IN CON- JUNCTION WITH CABINETS AND THE LIKE 20 Claims.

The present invention relates to protective cabinets for objects, devices or machines not continually in use. While shown and described in connection with an ironing machine cabinet, it

is equally applicable to the construction of cabinets and the like for other purposes.

Among objects of the invention is the incorporation in such a cabinet of an improved movable platform so arranged that the device Supported thereon is shiftable from a position within to a position entirely outside the cabinet.

Another object is a cabinet of the sort indicated in which the platform, when in its outer or extended position, is provided with improved auxiliary supporting means, while in addition such auxiliary supporting means is automatically retractable into the cabinet when closed.

Yet another object is such a cabinet construction having novel means adapted to increase the effective area of the platform, as well as stabilize the platform when in its outer position.

Another object is the provision of platform supporting mechanism enabling horizontal sliding travel of the platform and its load, incorporating swingable automatically operable auxiliary'supporting means for the platform, which provides as well, check means for controlling the movement of the auxiliary supporting means, and whose parts are so constructed as to maintain a desired relationship between movements of the platform and of the auxiliary supporting means, while insuring their movement in predetermined paths.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention, and wherein similar reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a cabinet constructed in accordance with the invention, parts being broken away, but indicating the doors, platform and supporting device in open and extended positions.

Figure 2 is an end elevation with parts broken away, also showing the doors open and the supported device in outer position.

Figure 3 is a partial view similar to Figure 2 but showing the parts in their closed and retracted position.

Figure 4 is a section taken substantially on line 4 4 .of Figure 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a section taken substantially on (Cl. S12- 29) the line 5 5 of Figure 2 and looking in the d1- rection of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a section taken substantially on the line 6 6 of Figure 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 7 is a section taken substantially on the line '1 1 of Figure 2, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 8 is a reduced and fragmentary plan view of the cabinet, showing the parts in extended 10 position.

Figure 9 is a section taken substantially on the line 9 9 of Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 10 is a section taken substantially on 15 the line ID I0 of Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figures 1l, 12, 13 and 14 are sections taken substantially on lines Il l l, l2 |2, I3 |3, and l4 |4 respectively of Figure 10, and looking in 20 the direction of the arrows.

Figures 15 and 16 are fragmentary perspective views of the track-carrying section of the cabinet and the bascule element rollable thereon, respectively. 25

In the drawings there is illustrated a cabinet shown as arranged to accommodate an ironing machine 20 provided with a base 2l which constitutes a movable carriage platform for the retractable support. The cabinet itself may, in the 30 construction and arrangement of its sidewalls 24, top 25 and swingable doors 26, be of more or less conventional or virtually any desired variety, the particular machine and cabinet structure shown being exemplary and subjectable to considerable 35 variation, as Well be recognized. In the illustrated construction sheet metal is intended to be used for the sides, top and doors, as well as for the base, which is shown mounted on short legs 22 provided with casters 23. 40

The platform 2l is movable with its load from a position entirely within the cabinet, as it is shown in Figure, 3 to a position entirely outside the cabinet, as it is shown in Figure 2. If the supported object is of considerable 45 weight with relation to the cabinet, as is contemplated to be the case in the illustrative embodiment here under consideration, auxiliary supporting means may also be provided for furnishing added support and bracing the assembly 50 against tipping when the carriage is in projected position. Such auxiliary suporting means may cooperate with the controlling and supporting mechanism for the carriage, and may be automatically retractible into the cabinet therewith, and 55 support.

concealed, together with the load and all of the mechanism, when the cabinet is closed, as will also appear.

In the illustrated construction the walls of the cabinet support the entire load, which is carried upon angle irons 35 forming tracks, welded or otherwise suitably positioned near the opposite side walls in opposed parallel relation. VAs best shown in Figs. 2 and 11, each angle iron track element carries a laterally bent flange 35h at its rear extremity which spaces the track from the side wall and is welded to the rear wall 21 lfor The inwardly p-rojecting horizontal track flange 35a of such angle irons are serially perforated as at 35o along lines spaced from their edges to provide each track with a guide rack for a rolling pinion wheel 46, one pinion being arranged to travel along each track, in mesh with the perforations. The pinion wheels 46, 46 are fast upon a cross shaft 41, and support the carriage platform 2|, in cooperation with wheels 45 which travel in a slot 5l] in the rolling lift or bascule extension trackvsections presently to be described. The cross shaft 41 will be seen to insure uniform travel of the two ends of the carriage.

Additional perforations 35d in the track elements 35 similarly act asV guide racksV for teeth 56a of sector gear portions forming part of rolling lift or bascule extension track sections. Each extension track section is formed of a pair of plates 55-56 welded or otherwise secured together, one (56) carrying the teeth 56a forming the toothed guiding sector and both bearing the load by reason of the alignment of their edges. The forward 'extremity of each plate 55 carries an extension track flange 55a adapted when swung to horizontal position to align with and provide a continuation of the xed track flange 35a, and tof project from the cabinet in such manner as to enable rolling the wheel 46 and the carriage 2| out of the cabinet thereover, the extension track Ysections being perforated as at 55e conformably with and to form a continuation of the rack perfo-rations 35C of the fixed track sections, and the carriage being freely rollable from one to the other. Y

The curved rocker portions of the bascule extensions are approximately degrees in extent, as indicated in the drawing, and preferably formed as complete sector plates each having a hold-down guide roller 58 located at its approximate center and arranged to travel under an overbent track formed by the down-turned upper end 46a of a vertical plate 40 carried between track element 35 and the side wall of the cabinet. The plates 46, are flanged as at 45a and secured to the front corner posts 28 of the cabinet, as by welding, and in turn support the track irons, which are welded thereto as at 35j.- The plates 40 are of course so-spaced from the walls as to hold the tracks in proper parallel relation, and each plate in addition to carrying the track flange 40ctY for the hold-down roller at its upper extremity, carries at its lower end a pivot 4| for the check link 59 by which the `auxiliary leg 3i) is guided, as well as the connection 42 for the counterbalance spring 65. n

The perforated section of the xed track ange 35a is somewhat cut away at its forward extremity, stopping short of the front of the cabinet to provide a horizontal tongue-portion 35e serving as an abutment for a locating stop 6| carried by plate 55 of the bascule assembly to limit downward movement of the rolling lift section and serve to assure alignment of the extension and fixed track flanges. The stop bracket 6| is welded or otherwise suitably secured to the outer face of plate 55, as shown in Figure 5, '1, and 16. 'Ihe guide slot 56 in the rolling-lift track section is at its inner extremity arced concentrically with the curved rocker surface, about the axis of guide roller 58. The carriage 2| is .freely rollable on the wheels 45--46, the former of which are journaled on stub axles 64 carried by brackets 65 depending from the carriage 2|, (Figure 4) while similar but deeper hangers 48 (Figure 5) carry shaft 41 which supports the wheels 46. Also carried byhangers 48 are hold-down rollers 53 which travel beneath the track flanges 35u-55a, and so prevent any escape or disalignment of the teeth of the wheels 46 with respect to the guide apertures 35c--55c.

During their travel through the arcuate portions of the guide slots the Wheels 45 will be seen to actuate the rolling lift track sections, tending to lift the outer extremities. of the extension tracks when the carriage is moved inwardly, and viceV versa.. VRollers 58 serve as hold-down means for the toothed sector portions if the rolling lift. tracks, preventing unmeshing or disalignment thereof.

The auxiliary legs 30 are preferably pivoted to the free ends of the bascule elementsy to support the extension tracks when outswung to their operative horizontal positions, as by pivot pins 51. The legs are guided by check links 59 pivoted to a midportion thereof. The check links will be seen to maintain the parallelism of legs 3|), insuring their proper positioning beneath the extension track sections to support theV same when extended, and facilitating their enclosure within the cabinets when elevated to the folded position indicated in Figure 3. Springs 60 articulated to the check links 59 and to plates 40 upon which the check links are pivoted counterbalance or partially counterbalance the swinging elements to assist in raising the same.

As best indicated in Figure 5, both the toothed wheels45 and the rolling lift track sections are thicker than their toothed portions, by reason of the provision Yof a double thickness of sheet metal in each. The entire support is accordingly not furnished nor entire wear taken by such toothed portions, and they may be formed of sheet metal and yet provide such strength Yand rigidity as to insure long life, although the material of which they are formed is of course optional.

The carriage 2| is shorter than the distance between the swingable sections 55, 56, providing clearance for the latter, andwhen in extended position the carriage maybe locked by drop leaf shelves'16, shown as carried by the cabinet doors 25 and also formed of sheet metal. The shelves 1li are provided with downturned flanged edges 16a adapted to engage clips 12 carried upon the ends of the carriage. Such clips serve both toV support the shelves in horizontal alignment with the top of the platform, and to lock the platform against inward movement. The drop leaf shelves 10 may be swingably supported upon horizontal rods, as' 14, projected across the inner faces of the doors 26 and through slots as 15 in the yside flanges o f the drop leaves, the ar 'to d rop the leaves to their positions of use it is only necessary to lift them suiciently to allow clearance for their lower end portions. The leaves of course provide shelves for the work, and the manipulation of the Work and of the machine are greatly facilitated by the fact that the machine isl during use supported in a position entirely clear of the cabinet.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with a cabinet, track means therewithin, a carriage movable on said track means, and additional track means swingable to project from and to lie within said cabinet and forming an extension support for the carriage when projected and actuable by the carriage.

2. In combination with a cabinet, track means therewithin, a carriage movable on said track means, additional track means supported by the cabinet and movable to project from or lie within the same and forming an extension support for the carriage when projected and actuable by the carriage.

3. In combination with a cabinet or the like, a load-carrying carriage, track means within the cabinet upon which the carriage is movable, and a swingable track section Supported by the cabinet appurtenant to an end of said track means and movable to a position in alignment therewith in which it projects from the cabinet to provide an extension of said track means upon which the carriage may be moved from the cabinet, and means connecting said swingable track section and the carriage whereby the former is actuable by the latter.

4. In combination with a cabinet, a load-carrying carriage, track means within the cabinet lupon which the carriage is movable, swingable extension track means supported by the cabinet 'appurtenant to an end of said rst mentioned track means and movable from a position within to a position in which it projects from the cabinet in alignment with said rst mentioned track means, t'o provide an extension upon which the carriage may be rolled from the cabinet, and means including a slotted portion connecting Said carriage and swingable extension track means, for actuating the latter upon movement of the former.

5. Apparatus of the character described including a supporting element having an open front, track means carried by said supporting element, a carriage member movable upon said track means, extension track means including a rockably supported portion swingable to a posi- -tion in which it forms an aligned continuation of said track means whereby the carriage member may be moved from one to another, and means providing sliding connection between said carriage and the rockably supported portion, whereby said portion may be rocked by moving the carriage member.

6. In combination with a supporting frame, track means mounted therein, a carriage member movable over said track means, an extension track element also carried by said frame and movable to positions in which it is projected and retracted relatively thereto, the carriage member being movable from the first mentioned track means over the extension track element and vice versa when the latter element is in projected position, and means providing driving connection between the carriage member and the extension track element for actuating said element upon movement of the carriage member.

7. In combination with a supporting frame,

track means mounted therein, a carriage member movable over said track means, an extension track element swingably carried by said frame and movable from a retracted position to a projected position in which it forms a substantially aligned continuation of said rst mentioned track means, the carriage member being movable from the first mentioned track means over the extension track element and vice versa When the latter element is in projected position, and a cam shaped member connecting the carriage and the extension track element actuable to swing the latter upon movement of the carriage.

8. In combination with a supporting frame, track means mounted therein, an extension track element rockably arranged upon said track means appurtenant to an end thereof and including a portion alignable with said track means when in one position to form an extension thereof, a carriage movable over said track means and the eX- tension track element, and means for rocking said element responsively to movement of the carriage.

9. In combination with a supporting framework, track means carried thereby, a rolling-lift extension track element rockably arranged appurtenant to an end of said track means and movable from an angular retracted position to a projected aligned position in which it forms an extension thereof, a carriage movable over said track means and over the extension track element, and means connecting said carriage and element for actuating the latter responsively to movement of the former.

10. In combination with a supporting frame, track means carried thereby, a rolling-lift extension track element rockably arranged upon and appurtenant to an end of said track means and movable from an angular retracted position to a projected aligned position in which it forms an extension thereof, a carriage movable over said track means and the extension track element, and means connecting said carriage and element for actuating the latter responsively to movement of the former.

l1. In combination with a supporting frame, track means carried thereby, an extension track element rockably arranged appurtenant to an end of said track means; and movable from an angu-' lar retracted position to a projected position in which it projects from the frame and forms an extension of the track means, a carriage movable in and out of the frame over said track means and the extension track element, means connecting said carriage and element for actuating the latter responsively to movement of the former, and bracing means for the extension track element also actuable by movement of said carriage.

12. In combination with a supporting frame, track means carried thereby, a retractable eXtension track element swingably arranged appurtenant to an end of said track means and movable from an angular retracted position with respect thereto to a projected position in which it forms an extension of the track means, a carriage movable over said track means and the eX- tension track element, means connecting said carriage and element for actuating the latter responsively to movement of the former, and bracing means for the extension track element also actuable by movement of said carriage.

13. In combination with a supporting frame, track means carried thereby, an extension track Cil element rockably arranged appurtenant tor an end ofthe extension track element and lswingable from a retracted position to an extended position in which it projects from the frame and forms a continuation of the track means, a carriage member movable over said trackV means and track element and from one tothe otheiya slotted connection between said carriage member and extension track element arranged to move said element to extended position as the carriage member is moved on the track means'to- Ward said element, and to move said element tov retracted position responsively to movement 0iV the carriage in the opposite direction.V

14.7In combination with a supporting frame, track means carried thereby, an extension track element rockablyl arranged appurtenant to an end of the extension track element and swingable from a retracted position to an extended position in which it projects from the frame and forms a Ycontinuation of said track means, a carriage member movable over said track means and track element, means connecting.I the carriage member and the extension trackV element whereby said element is actuable by movement of the carriage, and'bracing means also actuable by movement of the carriage and having a part connected to said extension Vtrack element for movement therewith to extended and retracted positions and arranged to brace said element when in extended position.

15. In combination with a supporting frame, track means carried thereby, an extension track element arranged appurtenant to an end of the track means and swin'gable from a retracted position to an extended position in which itrprojects from the frame and forms a continuation of said track means, a carriage member movable over said track means and track element, means providing a driving connection between the carriage member and the extension track element for motdng the latter to extended position as the carriage member is moved theretoward on said track means, and for moving said element to retracted position as the carriage member is moved away from said element on said track means, and bracing means for the extension track element connected to a projectable portion thereof and movable therewith to extended and retracted positions with relation to the frame.

16. In combination with a supporting frame, track means carried thereby, a rolling-lift track element also Ycarried by the frame and swingable from a retracted position relatively thereto to a position in which it extends therefrom to form an extension track section, toothed means for preventing disalignment of said rolling lift track section, a carriage supported by and movable over said trackmeans and said extension track, and driving means connecting said rolling lift track element and the carriage member for actuation of oneV by the other. Y Y

17. In `combination with a supporting frame, track means carried thereby, a rolling-lift track element also carried by the frame and swingable from a retracted position relatively thereto toa position in `which it extends therefrom to form an extension track section, a carriage supported by and movable o-ver said track means and said Y extension track means, and driving means connecting said rolling lift track element and the carriage member for actuation of one by the other. c c

18. In combination with a cabinet having a door, track means carried the cabinet, an extension track element also carried by the frame and movable from a retracted position with relation thereto to a position in which it projects therefrom, a carriage supported by and movable over said track means and said extension track element inwardly and outwardly of the cabinet, and means comprising an Vauxiliary shelf member attachable to the door and to said carriage for preventing unwanted movement Vof the latter and providing a support for desired objects.

19. In combination with a supporting frame, track means carried thereby, a rolling-lift track element also carried by the frame and swingable from a retracted position relatively thereto to a position in which it extends therefrom to form an extension track section, toothed means for preventing disalignment of said rolling llift track section, a carriage supported by and movable over said track means and said extension track, driving means connecting said rolling lift track element and the carriage member for actuation of one by the other, and bracing means for the rolling lift track section connected thereto and movable therewith to retracted and extended positions.

20. In combination with a cabinet having a door, track means carried L-yV the cabinet, an

extension track element also carried by the frame Y' and movable from a retracted position with relation thereto to a position in which it projects therefrom, a carriage supportedY by and movable f 

